In partnership with local organizations, including Washtenaw County Community Mental Health, 5HF launched a One Big Thing initiative to improve mental health and well-being, and decrease substance use and mental health crises, within local communities.

Millage-funded staff at Avalon Housing provide case management, crisis intervention, peer recovery support, in-home primary care, and community building activities for residents across Avalon’s 25 housing properties and through an on-site clinic at Packard Health.

With support from millage funds, CLR Academy offers a free summer program to K-8 youth in underserved communities. With activities ranging from soccer and basketball, to yoga and journaling, to reading and creating art, CLR builds on the natural leadership skills of its participants.

At Washtenaw County Children's Services, the millage provided funding for a newly embedded staff member: a mental health professional. This new millage-funded case worker helps youth and their families connect with needed community resources.

Through a millage-funded partnership, the Corner Health Center now offers psychiatric services in-house via two Washtenaw County Community Mental Health-affiliated providers. This partnership provides in-house treatment for youth and young adults.

In 2022, the millage partnered with Issue Media Group to provide $12,000 in funding for the Voices of Youth program. Voices of Youth is a series that strives to shed light on local issues that are important to Washtenaw County’s youth, from their own perspective.

The millage funded an expansion of Michigan Ability Partners’ Permanent Supportive Housing program, which provides permanent housing and social services to low-income and chronically houseless individuals. The millage also funds two MAP housing support coordinator positions.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Washtenaw County has used millage funds to conduct outreach efforts in underserved areas of Washtenaw County, to destigmatize mental health concerns, and to publish and disseminate a local mental health resource guide, “Taking Care.”

The millage partners with the Office of Public Defender and Prosecuting Attorney on the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion and Deflection (LEADD) program. LEADD works to keep low-level, low-risk offenders out of the criminal justice system by addressing underlying issues that lead to crime.  

Ozone House uses millage funds to operate its transitional living program, which provides housing, case management, therapy, and more to 17-24 year olds. Millage-funded youth specialists and case managers work with youth-in-residence and unhoused young adults to secure housing.

Packard Health works closely with Washtenaw County Community Mental Health to coordinate the care of clients. Packard clients now receive mental health care services on-site, along with medical care and social service connections, to support their health.

The Shelter Association of Washtenaw County uses millage resources to add beds dedicated to clients who need immediate temporary housing. They also refer clients in need of behavioral health services to Washtenaw County Community Mental Health.

Check and Connect offers evidence-based mentoring to students involved with the juvenile justice system, students with mental health needs, or students who frequently miss school or struggle with grades. Millage funds support full-time mentors in Ypsilanti and Lincoln.

Teen Turn Challenge is a faith-based program in Ypsilanti designed to support men at risk of criminal justice involvement. With over $6,000 in millage funding, the program has provided young men with mentorship, volunteer and athletic activities, and educational events.

Millage matching dollars enabled WISD schools to receive a grant from the state of Michigan to hire mental health professionals. Four behavioral health professionals now support WISD students, working to destigmatize mental health and reach kids early before issues escalate.

The Washtenaw Health Plan (WHP) works to expand access to health care by helping people sign up for health insurance. WHP navigators understand the Washtenaw County Community Mental Health system and can connect clients to behavioral health services when needed.

Millage funding supports the Ypsilanti Housing Commission’s Family Empowerment Program and their New Parkridge community in Ypsilanti. In New Parkridge, millage funding helped YHC secure housing vouchers and hire staff for case management and wraparound services.

With $250,000 in millage funding, kNEWjoy is partnering with Packard Health, Corner Health Center, and other local organizations to launch a program designed to increase the mental health of, and resources and social supports available to, Black adolescent boys in the community.